Political violence in America is rare but growing. From 1975 to 2025, about 3,597 people were killed in politically motivated attacks. That is only a small fraction of all murders. But recent years show a clear trend.
In 2023, every extremist murder recorded was tied to right-wing groups. In 2022, every ideologically driven mass killing was carried out by far-right extremists. The numbers lay bare the truth for anyone willing to face it.
With that reality, one would expect leaders to face the facts. But Vice President JD Vance chose a different route.
In his latest speech, he blamed Democrats for political violence across the country.
“If you look at the political violence in our country over the last couple of months, the last couple of years, it is not a both sides problem. It is primarily on one side of the political aisle,” Vance said. He gave no proof for the claim.
Vance: If you look at the political violence in our country over the last couple of months, last couple of years.. it is not a both sides problem. It is primarily on one side of the political aisle. pic.twitter.com/mhno9KvAnh
— Acyn (@Acyn) September 24, 2025
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Critics quickly pushed back. MeidasTouch called him out as the “Most divisive VP of all time.”
Others piled on as well. One user wrote, “The most inconsequential VP of all time.” Another asked pointedly, “Who was responsible for the J6 attack? Why would the leftists be pardoned?”
Another critic said Vance was “divisive, untruthful… even if he were to show numbers and statistics, we can’t believe anything they’re saying. Their information is usually meaningless blathering.”
Freddie Saxon added, “JD suffers from the same thing Trump has, an inferiority complex. JD is invisible and redundant and the only way anyone can possibly notice him is when he speaks like this, like Trump. This is not governance, it is brand promotion, you are the brand.”
The speech came after the tragic killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was shot while speaking at a Utah university. Police have arrested a suspect, but the motive is still not known. Even so, Republicans quickly rushed to spin the tragedy into a partisan attack.
Vance told Democrats to “look in the mirror.” He claimed there is “an entire network of left wing organizations that encourage, that promote, and that apologize for violence.” Again, no evidence. Just more talking points.
Donald Trump echoed him. In a video message, Trump said, “For years, those on the radical left have compared wonderful Americans like Charlie to Nazis and the world’s worst mass murderers and criminals. This kind of rhetoric is directly responsible for the terrorism that we’re seeing in our country today, and it must stop right now.”
Research shows most political violence in the United States has come from the far right. The Charlottesville rally in 2017. The attack on the Capitol on January 6. The many cases linked to white supremacist groups. These are not mysteries. They are documented events.
What Vance and Trump leave out is their own record. Trump has spent years pouring fuel on the fire with his own words. He called former Speaker Nancy Pelosi “evil, sick, crazy.” He called Governor Gavin Newsom “Newscum.” He even said Mitch McConnell, the leader of his own party, had a “death wish.” This is not the language of peace or unity.
After the Dallas ICE facility shooting today, Vance wrote, “The obsessive attack on law enforcement, particularly ICE, must stop. I’m praying for everyone hurt in this attack and for their families.”
The conversation soon turned online. Jon Favreau wrote, “The Vice President is not a reliable source of information. This is now the fifth or sixth time he’s posted a political take contradicted by facts from his own law enforcement agencies.”
Vance replied, “The gunman had anti-ICE messaging carved on the bullets he used. What, precisely, did I get wrong, dipshit?”
This shows just how careless and unprofessional it is for a vice president to attack people online. Leaders should act responsibly, not swap insults like playground kids.
Featured image via X screengrab
